Combined napkin dispensing case and menu card holder



May 11, 1937. E. ZAKOS 2,080,023

COMBINED NAPKIN DISPENSING CASE AND MENU CARD HOLDER Filed Dec. 5, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J .9 T J 0 l (//l L/f E. ZAKOS May 11, 1937.

COMBINED N APKIN DISPENSING CASE AND MENU CARD HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1936 Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STAT PATNT ()FFICE COMBINED NAPKIN DISPENSING CASE AND MENU CARD HOLDER Evangelos Zakos, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Zakos Menu Holder & Napkin Holder, Inc.,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in menu holders, and more particularly to a combined napkin dispensing device and menu holder.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved menu holder which will be incorporated between two or more napkin dispensing cases, and will be so arranged that the menu card may be easily slipped into place, and thus held out of the way until it is to be used again.

Another object of the invention is to provlde an improved menu holder which will be formed by a plurality of cooperating spring elements to positively hold the menu card when not in use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved menu card holder which will be formed in conjunction with two or more napkin dispensing cases, which will form a part of the cases, and Will be so arranged that the elements may be removed and replaced when it is desired to clean the holder.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved menu card holder Which will be highly efficient in operation, and which will be quite inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of my application,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my combined menu holder and napkin dispensing case;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective View of one of the spring menu card retaining elements;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through my improved menu card holder and napkin dispensing case, and

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of my improved device.

Like characters of reference are used throughout the following specification and the accompanying drawings to designate corresponding parts.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a pair of adjacently positioned napkin dispensing holders or cases I and 2, which are each provided with the customary followers 3 and springs 4, as best illustrated in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings. A knob or handle 5 will be positioned on one of the cases to move the same from place to place, as desired.

The cases I and 2 will be provided with a single bottom I having upturned side flanges 6, against which the heads 8 on the sides of the cases will lie, thus providing a relatively smooth surface, and suitable rivets or fastening means 9 will be passed through the upturned flanges 6 and through the side walls of the cases I and 2, for fastening the same together in operative position. An opening Ill will be formed through the bottom I at a point between the cases I and 2, and is provided so that crumbs and other foreign matter may be discharged therethrough when the cases and card holder is cleaned.

The main feature of my invention is the formation of the menu card holder, and comprises a plate H in each case I and 2, which may be slid upwardly from the bottom, when the bottom of the device is removed, and these plates are held in their proper position by the inturned ears ll formed integrally at the opposite sides of said plates and engage the inturned edges of the case. Each plate H is also adapted to support a leaf spring l2, which extends through the plate, and is riveted thereto at its upper end, as at I 3, while the lower portion of each spring l2 extends through a slot M in the plate,

and is free to move in a vertical direction through the said slot. It will be understood from the drawings, that there will be two cooperating springs l2, which contact each other when in their normal position, and. when a menu card is to be positioned within the holder, it will be slipped or forced down between the two coacting springs, and will thus be firmly held until it is again withdrawn for use.

Supporting buttons or feet, preferably of rubber are secured to the under side of the bottom I, as at I5.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the device will be readily knocked down or assembled, and assuming that the several parts are disassembled, the plates II will be slid into their proper position in each case I and 2, after which the bottom I for the cases will be slid into place, and the fastening rivets 9 inserted to hold the several parts in operative position.

It will be further understood, that I do not limit myself to the formation of a menu card holder in conjunction with two napkin dispensing cases, but the same construction and arrangement may equally well be used when any number of cases are employed.

Many minor changes in detail of construction may be resorted to without departure from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I in juxtaposition, a unitary bottom for said cases, a removable plate carried by each of said cases, and cooperating contacting spring elements carried by said plates adapted to clamp and support a menu card therebetween.

3. The subject matter as set forth in claim 2, and said spring elements being positively supported at their upper ends, and slidable at their lower ends.

EVANGELOS ZAKOS. 

